75/ 100
C
OverallD67/100
Stargazer 10.5" Cast Iron Skillet - Usa Made & Pre-seasoned Frying Pan

Stargazer Cast Iron · Cast Iron Skillets

Stargazer 10.5" Cast Iron Skillet - Usa Made & Pre-seasoned Frying Pan

C · Moderate

Lower PFAS concern, cast iron is inherently PFAS-risk-free.

Verdict: BuyCast iron skillet with no reported heavy metal, coating, or chemical leaching issues; pre-seasoning reduces user error and heating risk.

Stargazer Cast Iron skillets use bare cast iron with traditional oil-based seasoning, not modern nonstick coatings that typically contain PFAS. Cast iron has no chemical finish to source PFAS from. The brand does not disclose PFAS status, but the material itself poses minimal concern for PFAS exposure during normal use.

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Material

Cast iron with seasoning (oil-based)

Brand disclosure

Brand is silent on PFAS

Lab data

No public lab test

Why this grade

Category baseline

cookware is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.

Hurts the grade

No PFAS disclosure

No public statement about PFAS in this product.

Hurts the grade

Uncoated safe material

Bare, uncoated material (cast iron, stainless, carbon steel, or glass) with no surface treatment to contain PFAS.

Helps the grade

The full breakdown

What it's made of and why it matters

Stargazer 10.5" is solid cast iron (iron, carbon, trace silica) with an oil-based factory seasoning layer. Cast iron is chemically inert when properly maintained, iron and carbon do not leach under normal cooking conditions. The seasoning is polymerized oil, which builds a protective barrier and imparts minimal risk of chemical migration into food.

The brand's record and disclosure

Stargazer Cast Iron is a US small manufacturer known for traditional cast iron production and has no public recalls or safety controversies on record. The brand does not publish detailed material certifications or third-party testing results, but this is typical for the cast iron category. No disclosure failures or hazardous material reports have been documented for this product line.

How it compares in its category

Stargazer sits in the mid-to-premium segment of cast iron skillets, competing with brands like Lodge and Field Company. Unlike non-stick or enameled cast iron, bare cast iron avoids synthetic coatings, enamel lead/cadmium risks, and Teflon-type coating fume exposure entirely. Pre-seasoning is standard across quality manufacturers and lowers the risk of inadequate home seasoning.

If you buy it

Maintain the seasoning by wiping with minimal oil after each use and avoiding prolonged soaking or dishwasher washing, which strip the protective layer. Do not use acidic foods (tomato, vinegar, wine) extensively on new skillets until seasoning is mature (6-12 months), as acid can dissolve iron oxide. Cast iron has no temperature limits in home cooking (safe to 500+ degrees Fahrenheit). Replace only if structural cracks develop, which are rare and typically require decades of use.

Beyond PFAS: other things we checked

Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”

Possible

Iron leaching

Bare cast iron can leach small amounts of elemental iron into acidic foods, especially if the seasoning layer is thin or new. This is considered beneficial for many (iron supplementation), but individuals with iron-overload disorders should limit use or avoid.

Possible

Seasoning degradation and food contact with bare iron

If seasoning is worn away through aggressive scrubbing or acid exposure, unprotected iron surface contact with food increases. This is reversible through re-seasoning and does not create a persistent chemical hazard, only aesthetic and functional decline.

None known

Lead/cadmium in enamel (not applicable here)

This product is bare cast iron without enamel coating, so enameled cast iron hazards do not apply. Pre-seasoning is oil, not ceramic or enamel.

None known

Teflon-type coating fume risk (not applicable here)

Stargazer is cast iron without non-stick coating, so Teflon-type coating exposure is not a concern. This avoids the overheating-induced fume risk of traditional non-stick skillets.

None known

Manufacturing process contaminants (sand, mold residue)

No recalls or documented cases of sand, mold residue, or manufacturing contaminants in Stargazer skillets. Standard casting practices and pre-seasoning cure any minor surface debris.

What we don’t know

This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 88% confidence. It is not a lab result.

No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.

The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.

Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.

Safer alternatives in Cast Iron Skillets

12” Enameled Cast Iron Large Skillet

Caraway

12” Enameled Cast Iron Large Skillet

Enameled cast iron

A
A
PFASAll
A · Very low PFAS2 flags

Lower-concern cookware; enameled cast iron is an inherently safer base, and Caraway has publicly committed to PFAS-free formulations.

Risky category by default

Lodge Cast Iron Classic Cast Iron Skillets

Lodge

Cast Iron Classic Cast Iron Skillets

cast iron (bare or seasoned with oil)

A
C
PFASAll
A · Very low PFAS3 flags

Lower PFAS concern, bare cast iron has no synthetic coatings.

Risky category by default

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet Pan 6"

Lodge

Cast Iron Skillet Pan 6"

cast iron, seasoned with oil

A
C
PFASAll
A · Very low PFAS3 flags

Lower PFAS concern, bare cast iron with traditional seasoning, no Teflon-family coating coatings.

Risky category by default

More cast iron skillets grades

How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.